Hey everyone, I picked up an SL-1710 on ebay a while ago and it was all good until recently when I was having issues with the left channel. It would drop out to a staticky-crackly low volume and I could hear it going in and out when I played with the RCA cables so I went ahead and soldered in a new set and it was good for a while. That's until recently when the left channel issue arose again, but now the platter is behaving strangely. It sometimes doesn't start when I move the tonearm over it and stops if I close the lid a little too hard. I can get it to come back up to speed by giving it another tap but I'm lost on what it could be. The left channel issue seems to be temporarily fixed by lifting the underside of the turntable off the springs a bit. I'm familiar with the inside of the table but I'm lost on where to look for an intermittent issue like this. I can't believe that the RCA cables are busted after only a month so now I'm wondering if I followed the wrong lead on my original issue, is it possible anything could be shorting onto the chassis, worn springs maybe? Thanks for any help
Technics SL-1710 Audio/Platter Issues
- Thread starter Colin M.
- Start date
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Your left channel issue could be as simple as the contacts on the headshell or the ones they touch in the end of the tonearm. Clean those with Magic Eraser or contact cleaner on a Qtip. Prod the tonearm contacts too as they are spring loaded but don't always snap back as they should.
For that matter it could be a flakey contact at the cartridge itself. The leads might be a bit loose or corroded so need crimping or cleaning.
As for the platter issue, it could be that the motor micro switch is in need of cleaning. When you had it open did you spritz the pots and switches with Deoxit or similar? You should.
For that matter it could be a flakey contact at the cartridge itself. The leads might be a bit loose or corroded so need crimping or cleaning.
As for the platter issue, it could be that the motor micro switch is in need of cleaning. When you had it open did you spritz the pots and switches with Deoxit or similar? You should.
The end of the tonearm was pretty corroded looking when I got it though I did get it with contact cleaner on a q tip like you mentioned when I went through it originally. That included lubing the switches and speed control pots as well, the only thing maintenance wise I haven’t done is oiling the spindle and putting new grease on the plastic mechanisms but that’s next while I’m hunting down this issue.
I did manage to get through an LP by pushing the floating platter and tonearm down so I’m leaning towards the suspension being an issue somehow.
I did manage to get through an LP by pushing the floating platter and tonearm down so I’m leaning towards the suspension being an issue somehow.
I forgot to mention the headshell and cartridge are both brand new so I’m not really suspicious of them but you never know